John 8:32

The Epistle to Philemon

The Epistle to Philemon,
Philemon is now generally regarded as one of the
undisputed works of Saint Paul, although it was
questioned in the past by F.C. Baur. It is the shortest
of Paul's extant letters, consisting of only 335 words
in the original Greek text, and 25 verses in modern
English translations. Paul, who is apparently in prison
(probably in either Rome or Ephesus), writes to a
fellow-Christian Philemon and two of his associates. (If
the letter to the Colossians is authentic, then Philemon
must live in Colossae.) Paul writes on behalf of
Philemon's slave (or brother depending on
interpretation), Onesimus. Beyond that, it is not
self-evident as to what has transpired. Onesimus is
described as having been 'separated' from Philemon, once
having been 'useless' to him (a pun on Onesimus's name,
which means 'useful'), and having done him wrong.

The dominant scholarly consensus is that Onesimus is a
run-away slave: a fugitivus, who has encountered Paul
and become a Christian believer. Paul now (apparently)
sends him back to face his aggrieved master, and strives
in his letter to effect reconciliation between these two
Christians.

What is more contentious is how Onesimus came to be with
Paul. Various suggestions have been given: 1) Onesimus
being imprisoned with Paul; 2) Onesimus being brought to
Paul by others. 3) Onesimus deliberately seeking Paul
out, as a friend of his master's, in order to be
reconciled. Paul's letter is cryptic. He tactfully
addresses Philemon (Luther spoke of 'Holy flattery'),
speaking of Philemon's Christian compassion, but at the
same time Paul subtly reminds Philemon of his authority
over him, and the (spiritual) debt Philemon owes to him.
He also points out that Onesimus's conversion has
brought about a new state of affairs. And so Onesimus is
returned "no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a
beloved brother" (vs. 16).

It is less than clear what that critical phrase means,
and what Paul wants Philemon to do. Is Onesimus simply
to be forgiven, or freed (given manumission)? Is
Onesimus now Philemon's 'brother' as well as his
'slave', or does his position of 'brother' supplant that
of 'slave'. The letter is unclear and scholars are
divided. But this interpretation is important for an
understanding of the social impact of Paul's gospel.

There is no way of knowing what happened to Onesimus
after the letter. Ignatius of Antioch mentions an
Onesimus as Bishop of Ephesus in the early second
century; as Onesimus was not an uncommon slave name,
some commentators have suggested a connection between
the slave mentioned by Paul and this Bishop of Ephesus.
Philemon has been of only marginal interest in Christian
theology and ethics. The German Protestant theologian
and reformer Martin Luther saw a parallel between Paul
and Christ in their work of reconciliation. However,
Luther insisted that the letter upheld the social-status
quo: Paul did nothing to change Onesimus' legal position
as a slave - and he complied with the law in returning
him. The letter was a cause of debate during the British
and later American struggles over the abolition of
slavery. Both sides cited interpretations of Philemon
for support.